First World War Debt

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 17 July (WA 158–59) concerning First World War debt, what is the rate of interest for each amount stated; and what would the total amounts be today; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 17 July (WA 158–59) concerning the First World War debt, what are the nations which owe £2.269 billion; and how much each nation owes; and
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 17 July (WA 158–59) concerning First World War debt, what is the status of 4.368 billion dollars owed to the United States.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The United States proposed a one-year moratorium on all First World War debts in 1931, which allowed extensive international discussions on the general problems of debt repayment to be held. However no satisfactory agreement was reached and in the absence of such an agreement no payments have been made to, or received from, other nations since 1934.
	Details of First World War debts due to the United Kingdom from other nations at the time of the moratorium can be found in the finance accounts of the United Kingdom for the financial year 1930–31 (HC 106).
	The Answers to the further Questions can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. The specific details of each loan would have to be located from the files (dating back more than 80 years) held at the Public Records Office.

Customs: Vehicle Seizure at Channel Ports

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many cross-Channel shoppers have had their cars seized by Customs officials on their return to United Kingdom ports in each of the last three years; how many of these vehicles were subsequently sold by Customs and Excise; how many were destroyed by the department's car-crushing machine in Dover; how many were the vehicles of disabled people; and what income the Treasury has derived from the sales of seized vehicles.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Customs action at the Channel ports, including vehicle seizure, is solely focused on tackling smugglers, not honest cross-Channel shoppers.
	The total number of vehicles seized for all Customs offences across the whole of the UK was 3,193 in the financial year 1997–98, 5,200 in 1999–2000 and 10,219 for the year 2000–01. Figures for 2001–02 will be published later this year together with the general assessment of progress against the tackling tobacco smuggling strategy.
	Customs does not hold information centrally on the number of vehicles sold or destroyed or the income derived from the sale of seized vehicles.
	Customs does not collate statistics on the number of vehicles seized from particular categories of driver.

Investment in Industry

Lord Higgins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 22 July (WA 13), whether they accept that there is a difference between a correlation and a causal relationship; what evidence they have that there is a causal relationship between the change in ACT (advance corporation tax) made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's first Budget and investment in industry; and what that relationship is.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The abolition of Advance Corporation Tax was part of a package of reforms that included the abolition of payable tax credits on dividends and cuts in Corporation Tax rates. It is inappropriate to consider any of these elements in isolation, but it is not unreasonable to assume that the reforms have had a significant impact in increasing total business investment, as detailed in my Written Anwer on 22 July (WA 13).

EU Financial Management: 5 Per Cent Error Rate

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What improvements there have been since the findings of the European Court of Auditors that 5 per cent of the total European Union budget could not be properly accounted for each year and that a further 5 per cent is not spent on the purposes for which the funds were appropriated.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The Court of Auditors, through its annual report and special reports, plays a vital part in improving financial management in the EU. Details of recent measures and actions taken to improve financial management in the EU, including commentary on the 5 per cent error rate, are set out in the White Paper on European Community Finances published in July 2002: Statement on the 2002 EC Budget and Measures to Counter Fraud and Financial Mismanagement, Cm 5547. Actions by both the Commission's anti-fraud body, OLAF, and by member states to reduce irregularities are detailed in the Commission's report: Protecting the Communities' financial interests and the fight against fraud (2001).
	The White Paper also sets out details on the introduction of activity based budgeting. This new budgeting system is designed to ensure that the allocation of EU funds is better linked to the pre-set political objectives and that the spending is properly monitored to ensure that the objectives are met. This should help to reduce waste as well as ensuring the moneys are spent for those activities for which they were appropriated.

Contingent Liabilities of Government

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list those bodies, similar to Network Rail, whose borrowing is supported by the Government but is classified as a private sector borrowing, and indicate the extent of such borrowing in each case.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The standby credit facilities made available to Network Rail by the Strategic Rail Authority are unlikely to be drawn upon and have been reported to Parliament as a contingent liability. All outstanding contingent liabilities of government larger than £100,000, including those to private sector companies, are listed annually in the Supplementary Statements to the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund accounts.

Treasury Special Advisers

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list the names, ages and university from which they first graduated, of the special advisers in HM Treasury.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Sir Richard Wilson wrote to the Public Administration Select Committee on 1 August 2000 describing government policy on disclosure of personal information such as age, career history and educational qualifications. Such information cannot be supplied as it is personal between the employer and employee.
	A copy of Sir Richard's letter can be found in the Fourth Report from the Public Administration Select Committee for the 2000–01 Session HC 293, which is available from the Library of the House.

Legislation: Human Rights Act

Baroness Greengross: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they stand by the assurance in the preface to the Home Office published Study Guide to the Human Rights Act that the Act "is a form of higher law in the United Kingdom', that is, that it has primacy over any domestic legislation which may conflict with the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights which Britain had ratified in 1951".

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The Human Rights Act provides that, so far as it is possible to do so, legislation must be read and given effect in a way which is compatible with the convention rights. This applies to all primary and secondary legislation whenever enacted. To that extent, the Human Rights Act may be described as a form of higher law.
	However, the Human Rights Act provides that the validity, continuing operation or enforcement of primary legislation of the United Kingdom Parliament is unaffected by any incompatibility with the convention rights. In this way, the Act unequivocally preserves Parliament's ability to pass Bills that are or may be in conflict with the convention.

Laganside Courts, Belfast: Information Signs

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 24 July (WA 76) concerning languages used at Laganside Courts in Belfast, why they consider that English, Irish and Cantonese are languages which court users are likely to want to use.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: English, Irish and Cantonese were selected for use in the talking information signs at Laganside Courts on the basis of anticipated demand by court users for this facility.
	English is the first language used in Northern Ireland. The 1991 Census figures indicate that approximately 10 per cent of the population in Northern Ireland speak Irish. Information provided by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure suggests that the Chinese community in Northern Ireland is the next largest ethnic group likely to require this facility.

Khamisiyah Demolitions

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What response they will be making to the offer by Congressman Christopher Shays, the Chairman of the United States Congressional Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations, to include British service men and women in the investigations now proceeding in the United States into the effects for troops exposed to the toxic plume created by the demolition of the Iraqi chemical weapons stored at Khamisiyah in Southern Iraq.

Lord Bach: The Government's initial assessment of the implications for United Kingdom personnel of the Khamisiyah demolitions was published in December 1999 in a Ministry of Defence paper entitled: Review of events concerning 32 Field Hospital and the release of nerve agent arising from US demolition of Iraqi munitions at the Khamisiyah depot in March 1991. The paper is available in the Library of the House and on the internet at: http://www.mod.uk/issues/gulfwar/info/khamisiyah.htm. The paper's main conclusion was that up to 9,000 UK troops might theoretically have been exposed to nerve agent following the demolitions but that the level of exposure would have no detectable effect on human health, either in the short or long term.
	In April this year, the US DoD published the final version of its case narrative report on US demolition operations at Khamisiyah and a related technical report. Both reports are being analysed by Ministry of Defence officials. The implications for UK personnel will be made public when available, but at this stage there is no evidence to link the Khamisiyah demolitions with the range of symptoms of ill health being experienced by some UK Gulf veterans.
	The Government are seeking clarification from Congressman Shays, through his office, of what work he had in mind when referring to UK personnel and the Khamisiyah demolitions during his visit to London last month.

Gibraltar

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether arrangements for the defence of Gibraltar are adequate to respond to an invasion by a foreign power.

Lord Bach: Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that arrangements for the defence of Gibraltar are appropriate to meet any potential threat.

Kenya: British Unexploded Ordnance

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in the mediation process between the Ministry of Defence and Kenyan tribal people concerning deaths and woundings caused by British unexploded ordnance on military ranges in Kenya.

Lord Bach: An agreement was reached at a mediation meeting on 18 and 19 July between the Ministry of Defence and lawyers representing the claimants. The MoD agreed to pay £4,500,000, plus reasonable costs, on a limited liability basis in settlement of the 228 claims already notified and any potential claims of which the lawyers are presently aware but which have not been notified to the Ministry of Defence.

Vaccines Interactions Research Programme

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they still expect Parliament to have to wait until 2003 for the outcome of the study at the Government's science and technology research centre at Porton Down of the possible adverse effects of the multiple vaccination programme to which British troops deployed to liberate Kuwait were subjected in 1990.

Lord Bach: The Ministry of Defence's Vaccines Interactions Research Programme is studying whether the combination of vaccines and tablets used to protect UK personnel during the Gulf conflict can give rise to adverse health effects. The results of the initial dose-ranging study were published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology on 21 January 2001. The study did not report any remarkable findings with the combination of vaccines and pyridostigmine bromide pretreatment examined but helped to determine the appropriate vaccine doses for use in the subsequent study. The present study is using a small primate, the marmoset. The first two phases of the marmoset study found that the dose and panel of vaccines used in the dose-ranging study did not give rise to acute health consequences in the marmoset.
	An outline of the findings was presented at the Conference on Illnesses among Gulf War Veterans: A decade of scientific research in Washington DC in January 2001. Interim results from the third phase of the marmoset study will be submitted for presentation as a scientific poster to an appropriate conference later this year. This will report upon the effects of vaccines and pyridostigmine three months after administration. The majority of the practical work from the third phase of the marmoset study should be complete by August 2003. The study as a whole is expected to complete in December 2003 and cannot be speeded up because of the need to monitor the marmosets over a pre-determined period of time and to undertake key activities such as histopathology and statistical analyses. The final results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The timing of publication will be a matter for the journals' editors.
	The MoD hopes that results from related vaccines research work in mice being undertaken at the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control will be available in the form of an abstract of work submitted for presentation at a conference in September 2002. The poster describing the marmoset work and the abstract of the mouse study will be available on the MoD's website (along with the published information to date) at: www.mod.uk/issues/gulfwar. High quality research cannot be hurried or skimped to meet any earlier deadline than we envisage.

Gulf Veterans: Motor Neurone Disease

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What further consideration they have given to emulating the decision of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to accept motor neurone disease among veterans of the Gulf confict as a war-related illness.

Lord Bach: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 13 March 2002 (WA 81).

Gulf Veterans' Illnesses

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What recent representations they have received about ministerial comments in relation to Gulf War illnesses; what replies have been sent; and what further action they are considering.

Lord Bach: The Government place a very high priority on addressing the concerns of Gulf veterans and continue to respond to representations from Parliamentarians and others on various issues concerning Gulf veterans' illnesses. The Government's position on this complex issue is kept under review. If the noble Lord would care to write to me with details of any concerns he may have, I will reply.

EU-Singapore Free Trade Area Proposal

Lord Naseby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current status of the negotiations on the proposed European Union-Singapore free trade area agreement.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Singapore Government have made clear that they wish to see a free trade agreement negotiated between the EU and Singapore. Singapore has lobbied EU member states and the European Commission in favour of this proposal. As yet the Commission has not put a formal recommendation to the Council of Ministers on how the EU should respond. The UK has strong interests in trade with Singapore, as its principal European trading partner.

Strategic Export Controls Annual Report

Baroness Pitkeathley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the annual report on strategic export controls will be published.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The 2001 annual report on strategic export controls was published on 19 July. It covers arms export licensing decisions and exports in 2001, as well as domestic and international policy developments. Since 1997, the reports have established themselves as among the most transparent produced by any arms exporting country, giving Parliament and public the ability to scrutinise our export licensing policy as never before. This year's report will be a clear restatement of that commitment to accountability and transparency in strategic export controls. The report will be available on the FCO website (www.fco.gov.uk) and through the Stationery Office.

EU/Israel Association Agreement

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect the European Union Foreign Ministers and the General Affairs Council to discuss the European Union-Israel free-association agreement; which countries have called for the suspension of that agreement; and what is the Government's position.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: European Union Foreign Ministers are likely to discuss the EU/Israel Association Agreement at the 30 September meeting of the General Affairs Council, in preparation for the 22 October meeting of the EU/Israel Association Council. We are not aware that any member state is proposing suspension of the association agreement. The Government believe that the European Union can best exert influence on both Israel and the Palestinians through dialogue and engagement. We do not believe that suspension of the EU/Israel agreement would bring the parties any nearer to a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

EU Economic and Social Committee: UK Representation

Baroness Gould of Potternewton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What will be the United Kingdom's representation on the European Union's Economic and Social Committee as it starts its next term.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government have submitted to the Council Secretariat details of the United Kingdom's 24 nominees for membership of the Economic and Social Committee, along with 24 reserve nominees.
	The nominees are:
	
		
			   
			 Group I 
			 Bryan Cassidy Consultant 
			 David Sears Former Deputy Director General, British Chamber of Commerce 
			 Ben Butters Director, Small Business/Europe 
			 Donna St Hill International Consultant 
			 Sheila Ritchie Solicitor 
			 Brenda King Chair, African and Caribbean Finance  Forum 
			 Robert Baird Economist 
			 Clive Wilkinson Consultant, Gin and Vodka  Association 
			 Group II 
			 David Feickart TUC European Officer 
			 Sir Ken Jackson AMICUS 
			 Alison Shepherd Vice President, UNISON 
			 Monica Taylor Transport and General Workers'  Union 
			 Judy McKnight General Secretary, NAPO 
			 Derek Hunter Regional Secretary GMB Southern  Region 
			 Sandy Boyle Deputy General Secretary, UNIFI 
			 Brian Curtis RMT Regional Organiser 
			 Group III 
			 Ann Davison Executive Director, European Research  into Consumer Affairs 
			 Rose D'Sa Law Professor, University of  Glamorgan 
			 Sukhdev Sharma Former Chief Executive, Commission  for Racial Equality 
			 Richard Adams Fairtrade Foundation 
			 John Simpson Consultant Economist 
			 Madi Sharma Managing Director 
			 Maureen O'Neil Director, Age Concern, Scotland 
			 Claire Whitten Executive Director, Northern Ireland  Centre in Europe 
		
	
	The reserve nominees are:
	
		
			   
			 Group I 
			 Len Collinson Management Consultant 
			 Brendan Burns Company Director, Burns, Burns and  Burns 
			 Kathleen Secker City College, Norwich 
			 William McKee DG British Property Foundation 
			 Brian Prime Federation of Small Businesses 
			 Brian Rostron Director General, Confederation of  UK Coal Producers 
			 Edmund Tucker Consultant, Scotch Whiskey  Association 
			 Gary Parker Forum for Private Business 
			 Group II 
			 Nicholas Clark Policy Officer, GPMU 
			 Andrew Baird Regional Secretary (Scotland)  Transport and General Workers'  Union 
			 Danny Carrigan National Officer, AMICUS 
			 Jim McCusker NIPSA 
			 Peter Bunting Assistant Secretary, Irish Congress of  Trade Unions 
			 Patrick Carragher General Secretary, British Association  of Colliery Management 
			 Tom Leney Association of Teachers and Lecturers 
			 Anne Middleton STUC 
			 Group III 
			 Bill Ure Secretary, Rail Passengers Committee  Scotland 
			 Hamish Morrison Chief Executive, Scottish Fishermen's  Association 
			 Laura Hayes Director, Management Development  and Coaching Programmes 
			 Jane McKay Glasgow Trades Union Council 
			 Barbara Kelly Former Chair, Scottish Consumer  Council 
			 Rita Rees Brain Injured and Families European  Confederation 
			 Naomi Sargant Visiting Professor, The Open  University 
			 Shahwar Sadeque Former Commissioner for Racial  Equality

British American Tobacco Investigation

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made in the Companies Act investigation into British American Tobacco that began on 30 October 2000.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The investigation into allegations that British American Tobacco was implicated in smuggling is continuing. A confidential investigation is being conducted under Section 447 of the Companies Act 1985. The department does not comment on any aspects of such inquiries.

A3: Closures

Lord Brougham and Vaux: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many occasions in the past 12 months the A3 at the Devil's Punchbowl north of Hindhead has been closed in either direction other than for pre-planned maintenance; what was the reason for and the duration of each closure, and what diversion signs were put in place on the A287 at Hindhead and beyond to guide traffic back onto the A3.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the noble Lord.
	Letter from the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Tim Matthews.
	The Minister of State, Lord Macdonald of Tradeston has asked me to reply to your recent question about the number of times over the past 12 months the A3 at the Devil's Punchbowl north of Hindhead has been closed in either direction, other than for pre-planned maintenance; the reason for and the duration of each closure, and what diversion signs were put in place.
	The Highways Agency had no closures over the past 12 months other than those for pre-planned works. However, we are aware of 4 occasions during that period when the A3 in the vicinity of the Devil's Punchbowl was closed by the police due to road accidents.
	On 15 October 2001 the A3 was closed for 10- hours after a collision between an HGV travelling southbound and one travelling northbound. During the closure traffic was diverted by signing via the A325 and A31.
	On 2 April 2002 the A3 was closed for 12 hours after an HGV overturned and shed it's load. Traffic was diverted by signing through Thursley.
	On 14 May 2002 the A3 was closed for 1- hours after a car travelling southbound collided with a lorry travelling northbound. The police did not request a diversion.
	On 14 July 2002 the A3 was closed for 4- hours when a car travelling southbound collided with 2 vehicles travelling northbound. Northbound traffic was diverted via the A287 to Farnham and A31. However, we understand that the police varied this at one stage, directing traffic via the A287 to Haslemere. Southbound, light traffic was diverted by signing via side roads from Thursley towards Farnham, onto the A287 and back on the A3 at Hindhead. The police did not request a diversion route for HGV's.
	The responsibility for closing sections of a road or carriageway in the event of an accident rests with the police. The role of the Highways Agency and our Managing Agents is to provide assistance in setting and signing diversion routes or carrying out repairs to restore the road to a safe condition. The police have the power to vary the diversions at any time and there may of course be occasions when the police close a road without the Highways Agency's knowledge.
	I hope that this explains the position.

Bus Passes

Lord Walker of Doncaster: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When parity will be established in the age of eligibility for bus passes for women and men.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: From 1 April 2003 when the Travel Concessions (Eligibility) Act 2002 takes effect.

Rail Freight

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will extend to Consignia the grants that are available to new entrants to the postal business to balance road and rail costs; and
	What importance they attach to the continued transportation of mail by rail as a contribution to the fulfilment of the growth targets for the conveyance of freight by rail in the 10-year transport plan; and
	What encouragement they are giving to the establishment in the Midlands of a new rail-connected hub for postal services.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Strategic Rail Authority's freight strategy includes a framework for the development of premium logistics by rail. The premium freight market, including mail, is substantial and could make a significant contribution to the increase in rail freight envisaged in the 10-year plan. To that end, the Strategic Rail Authority would welcome growth of Consignia's business on rail. That and the provision of supporting interchange facilities in the Midlands or elsewhere is, in the first instance, a commercial matter between Consignia and its logistics suppliers. Consignia has not so far applied to the Strategic Rail Authority for a grant. Any such application would be considered according to the rules and processes for freight grants.

Railtrack

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What applications have been made by them, or any other statutory authority, to the European Commission, or any other institution of the European Community, concerning loans or grants available to Network Rail in respect of expenditure, or contingent liability, for assuming the responsibilities of Railtrack plc; what replies have been received; under what rules such applications were made or agreed; and what parts count against any ceiling or restriction made on public borrowing requirements by the Government under Community rules.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Commission was notified on 31 May of a scheme to enable Railtrack plc to be brought out of administration on a financially sound and secure basis. The Commission announced on 17 July that it had no objections to the support facilities, which it judged not to be state aid. Included in this is some public expenditure, but £23 billion of the £23.5 billion notified is for contingent financial support facilities that do not count against any public borrowing ceiling or restriction under Community rules.

Stonehenge: Road Tunnel Options

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Highways Agency is considering comparisons between 2km cut-and-cover and bored tunnels and a c.4.5km long bored tunnel for the A303 at Stonehenge.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Highways Agency is currently assessing two tunnel options, both of which are 2km in length (cut and cover and bored) and also a comparative assessment of a 4.5km long bored tunnel. These will be published in the environmental statement for the A303 Stonehenge scheme.

Air Travel: Economic Appraisals

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In respect of their air transport consultation document published on 23 July—(a) what is the potential increase in productivity across the economy due to growth in the aviation industry (page 48); and (b) what are, per passenger, the values attributed in the economic appraisal of options (section 9.3) to the benefits of: (1) allowing more people to fly for business; (2) allowing more people to fly for pleasure; (3) giving passengers a greater choice of airport; (4) giving passengers a greater choice of flight timings.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The main south-east air transport consultation document (page 148) reports that the focus of economic appraisal of the airport development options has been to estimate the direct benefits to passengers, and that potential increase in productivity across the economy due to growth in the aviation industry was not estimated.
	A fare premium is applied in the modelling to price off all passengers at a congested airport; this is the same for all passengers. Benefits to passengers from increasing airport capacity are represented by a reduction in this fare premium. The fare premium at a congested airport is higher the less scope there is for switching to a less preferred airport, and higher too if alternative airports have less choice of flight timings.

Aviation Fuel Duty

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In respect of their air transport consultation document published on 23 July, what would be the reduction in demand for air transport in the United Kingdom if aviation fuel were subject to the same rates of duty and tax as motor vehicle fuel.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Government are committed to ensuring that the aviation industry meets its environmental costs. Since civil aviation is a international industry, the Government's approach is to support multilateral action through ICAO to end the exception from tax for international aviation fuel. Unilateral action would create market distortions, such as tankering of extra fuel from abroad to avoid tax, and would have limited environmental benefits. In the consultation document, The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: South East, it is estimated that policies to meet the contribution of aircraft emissions towards climate change would reduce demand by around 10 per cent.

Fuel Tax

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What would be the expected increase in demand for (a) lorries and (b) cars if the duty and tax on fuel were reduced to zero.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: It is not possible to predict accurately the effect of such a large change on the demand for cars or lorries. Our estimates of the effect of fuel price changes on car ownership are based on past experience of much smaller changes in such costs. We make forecasts of lorry traffic but not of the numbers of lorries.

Transport and the Economy

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, in undertaking economic assessment of new road or rail schemes, they include the potential increase in productivity across the country due to the growth in the motor or railway industry.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Savings in shorter journey times and in the costs of operating vehicles resulting from investment in road or rail schemes are included in the department's appraisal framework for assessing transport investments.
	No allowance is made for any other effects on productivity from transport investment. This question was examined by the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment (SACTRA) as part of their 1999 report Transport and the Economy. SACTRA concluded that changes in productivity across the economy, as a result of transport investment, were too complex and difficult to measure.

GM Crops: Prime Minister's Strategy Unit

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	To explain the role of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit in the public dialogue on GM crop issues.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit (formerly the Performance and Innovation Unit) will carry out an assessment of the overall costs and benefits of genetically modified (GM) crops, including their effect on conventional and organic farming interests.

People's Panel

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they plan to release the results of the final wave of research from the People's Panel.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Cabinet Office will publish on Wednesday 31 July the last of three sets of results using the People's Panel that have tracked satisfaction with public services over the past four years. This rounds off the work of the panel, which has itself come to an end, as announced in January. A summary of the results will be issued on the day and full results will be made available on the Cabinet Office website. Copies will also be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Selby Road/Rail Accident Reports

Baroness Pitkeathley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made on the recommendations of the reports produced in February this year by the Health and Safety Commission and the Highways Agency following the Selby road/rail accident on 28 February 2001.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Good progress is being made in implementing these recommendations. Representatives of highway authorities, railway infrastructure authorities and rail safety organisations are working with the Department for Transport on the immediate priorities. They have agreed the basis for a protocol for apportioning responsibility and costs of mitigation measures. In addition, following adoption of an initial CSS/Railtrack risk prioritisation framework, progress is being made in developing a second stage assessment tool for sites where the risk of a road vehicle accidentally getting onto the railway is not clear cut. Progress is also being made on good practice guidance on measures to help manage risk at specific sites, the identification of the data required to be collected following incidents where road vehicles get onto railway property and the revision of barrier standards.
	We are pleased to say that we are on track to complete these recommendations by spring next year.

Unfounded Asylum Applications

Baroness Pitkeathley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are to take to deal with asylum applications that are certified to be manifestly unfounded.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government continue to regard the Oakington reception centre as a cornerstone in their overall strategy for processing asylum applications as speedily and fairly as possible. It operates together with a fast-track appeals process to bring those applications determined as unfounded quickly to the point of being returnable. The Government wish to build on this process still further in cases where the asylum applicant has been certified as manifestly unfounded and is detained at the end of the Oakington process. The chief adjudicator has agreed that hearings of appeals in such cases will be listed for hearing between six and eight days after they are received by the immigration appellate authorities.

Veterinary Surgeons

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 11 July (WA 105), why veterinary surgeons on both the supplementary and the temporary lists are subject to restrictions which result in their being unavailable to assist with the eradication of a foot and mouth outbreak; whether these restrictions would also bar them from participating in actions against other highly infectious diseases; and whether the restrictions should be amended.

Lord Whitty: The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1948 established the current requirements for practice in the UK, including the requirement for all veterinary surgeons to have attended a course of study at a recognised university as a requisite for admittance to the Register of Members. The Supplementary Veterinary Register (SVR) came into force under that Act and provided for individuals, who had not attended a course of study at a recognised university, to continue to practice in certain restricted categories of employment. Further restrictions were imposed on individuals who were registered under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, which replaced the 1948 Act. Those listed in the SVR are not members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS) and the restrictions placed upon them preclude their being used as veterinary surgeons in FMD control and other notifiable disease control measures.
	Section 7 of the 1966 Act permits a person holding a foreign veterinary qualification to practise temporarily or otherwise subject to restrictions directed by council.
	It is granted in order that a person holding a foreign veterinary qualification may carry out acts of veterinary surgery in accordance with the duties of a specified position, in a specific location and who is responsible to a named MRCVS. It does not permit the temporary member to carry out any other veterinary procedure, except where that procedure would be permitted by a lay person. Such appointments are usually restricted to those in employed positions in veterinary schools and designated veterinary laboratories and research establishments or to those in full-time post-graduate education.
	It does not permit the temporary member to use the letter MRCVS, nor to sign prescriptions or certification, which requires the signature of a MRCVS.
	Those listed in the temporary register are not members of the RCVS and the restrictions placed upon them preclude their being eligible for employment as veterinary surgeons used in FMD control and other notifiable disease control measures.
	We are in the preliminary stages of modernising the Veterinary Surgeons Act. A Meeting with the RCVS has taken place. The issue of registration was a discussion point, alongside a number of other areas of the Act. We hope to consult on the proposals later this year.

Royal Parks: Pedestrian Crossings

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why pedestrian crossings in the Royal Parks are not marked in the same way as pedestrian crossings elsewhere.

Baroness Blackstone: Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency and I have asked its chief executive, William Weston, to reply.
	Letter from the Chief Executive of the Royal Parks Agency, Mr William Weston, dated 30 July 2002.
	I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport to reply to your Parliamentary Question about pedestrian crossings in the Royal Parks as this is an operational matter for which the Agency is responsible.
	The Royal Parks are primarily for the quiet enjoyment of the public, with priority being given to pedestrians. As such, it is our policy to reduce the impact of traffic in the Royal parks wherever we can.
	As the roads in the parks are not public highways, we are not obliged to use standard signage and road markings. Although we try and keep as close to the conventional versions as possible, we adapt road traffic features like pedestrian crossings so that they are appropriate to a park setting. This reduces the visual impact of the roads on the park landscape and makes it more obvious to drivers that they are not on an urban street.

UK Birth Rates

Lord McColl of Dulwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to increase the birth rate in (a) England and Wales; (b) Scotland; and (c) Northern Ireland.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: In the UK we currently have around 3.4 people of working age for every person aged state pension age and above. By 2030 this will have fallen to around 2.4.
	The UK National Insurance Fund is financed on a pay-as-you-go basis with current national insurance contributions financing a range of today's contributory benefits, including the state retirement pension.
	An increase in the birth rate would help to reduce any future demographic pressure on the National Insurance Fund. However, any increase in the birth rate would need to be sustained over the longer term as any one-off increase would generate future pressures on the National Insurance Fund.

Roding Valley: Football Academy Proposal

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to protect the integrity of the Green Belt within the Epping Forest District; and, if so, whether they will ensure that any proposal for a football academy in Roding Valley is called in for determination by a public inquiry.

Lord Rooker: The Government Office for the East of England is monitoring the proposal; any decision to call in the application for planning permission will take account of our published criteria.

Beacon Councils Advisory Panel

Lord Burlison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have for the Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils.

Lord Rooker: The Advisory Panel on Beacon Councils, which is currently an ad hoc body, will be established as an advisory non-departmental public body. The new body will formally come into being on 16 September 2002.